11/08/2010

Fast food and children

A new study by Yale University researchers is raising new questions about healthier alternatives being offered to parents at fast food restaurants. They discovered that while healthy options for kids are available, restaurant servers rarely mention them to parents.

The researchers found customers asking for kids meals were offered healthy items like apples only 6 to 8 percent of the time at McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.

Researchers say television advertising is also aimed directly at children.

Tell us what you think: Do fast food restaurants need to do more to offer healthier choices? Do Happy Meals and similar gimmicks need to be banned? Do parents need to take a firmer role in what their children are eating?

Click on comment below to offer your opinion. All comments are subject to approval.

Comments

This issue won't be one that goes away since we are a country based on freedom. We all have freedom of choice. The best we can do as parents is to teach our children well and teach them how to be healthy. We do that by being a healthy example to them.

I believe we make choices and desicion's in life that piggyback on what our parents relayed on us,therefore without hesitation the only factor that needs to be changed in society is the mind in which you believe it is acceptable to gorge on fast food in a fast paced society,however if you stop running and take time to develop good eating options you will be well on your way to a life of chain free hypocracy.Life begins with you making the right choice why not let the day end in reevualuation what you can do differently giving the opportunity

I BELIEVE THAT THE WORKERS THAT PLOW THE STREETS IN NY ARE DOING THE BEST JOB THEY CAN DO AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. WHATS THE BIG DEAL. STAY AT HOME AND ENJOY QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY FOR A CHANGE. OR MOVE TO ARIZONA

this is absolutely ridiculous! companies should have the right to have whatever they want on their menu. We have freedom to choose to eat at these establishments or not, why not try eating at home a little bit more often and cooking a home cooked meal!

I think it is ridiculous to put the burden on the restaurant chain to carefully reword how they present their menu. It should be the responsibility of the parents to find alternative healthy choices such as eating at home and preparing healthy choices for children to eat versus going out to eat on a regular basis. I think the country as a whole has lost sight of home cooked meals, yes i agree everyone is very busy but with some organization and preparation ahead of time (i.e. crock pot cooking) there would not have to be pressure put on restaurants, i totally disagree with telling companies what they can and cannot put on their menu. Its time for parents to take charge of their families and their health and not rely on anyone else.

I think fast food chains are offering healthy choices. I do not believe a child's good health is the responsibility of the food establishment. Parents must assume that responsibility is theirs. Although I do not frequent these establishments often, I feel there are enough choices for parents or adults in charge to make good decisions for the health of their children. Sometimes it is a parent's job to just say NO!